Mom's Banana Cream Pie for Vicki

in , , , on Saturday, September 10, 2011

Vicki (almost 4) in Santa's left arm


This picture brings back so many good memories of my childhood in Pickerington, Ohio.  Then, also of memories some years later, after we moved to Louisville and went back to Pickerington to enjoy the holidays with family.  Those were the good old days!

And now, for the banana cream pie!  This recipe of Mom’s Banana Cream Pie is for Vicki, my wonderful cousin back in Ohio.  She and her husband, Jeff, love this pie so I have re-named it “Vicki’s Banana Cream Pie!”

Just one bite and you’ll also be hooked on this pie!  It is luscious, velvety, creamy and great tasting!  And, besides that, it’s filled with lots of good fresh sliced bananas and topped with heavenly meringue. 

It seems like anything with bananas is a great dessert all year round.  They ripen easily, they are nutritious and there is always a plentiful supply of them.  I’ve hardly met a pie I don’t like and this one is soooo good.  Mom made this pie so many times for dessert when there was a family get-together; actually, she usually made 2 of them and they were devoured.  It’s a great dessert one of those comfy foods that just gives you that “good all over” feeling!

Here’s a little banana trivia for you:


·         A cluster of bananas is called a hand and consists of 10 to 20 bananas, which are known as fingers.
·         The phrase “going bananas” was first recorded in the Oxford English Dictionary and is linked to the fruit’s “comic” connections with monkeys.
·         Over 28 pounds of bananas are eaten by the average American every year.
·         In Council Bluffs, Iowa it is against the law to sell bananas without warning the buyer of the dangers of casting the peel on the footpath.
·         The banana was first mentioned in Buddhist texts from the 6th Century.
·         Chiquita Brands International is based in Cincinnati, Ohio. 
·         Chiquita Banana was created by Dik Browne who is best known for his “Hagar the Horrible” comic strip.

·         Elvis was a very enthusiastic fan of banana cream pie!

 Chiquita Banana


 
Mom's Banana Cream Pie


Ingredients:

1 baked pie shell
2 large bananas, sliced
4 eggs
¾ cup sugar
¼ cup cornstarch
¼ teaspoon salt
3 cups milk
1 tablespoon butter
2 teaspoons vanilla
4 egg white meringue

Prepare baked pie shell.  Set aside.
Separate egg yolks from whites, set whites aside for meringue.

Filling:

Combine sugar and cornstarch.  Gradually stir in milk.
Cook and stir over medium-high heat until thickened and bubbly.
Cook and stir for 2 additional minutes.  Remove from heat.
Slightly beat egg yolks with a fork.
Gradually stir about 1 cup of the hot filling into yolks.
Pour egg yolk mixture into hot filling in pan.
Bring to a gentle boil.  Cook and stir for 2 additional minutes.
Remove from heat.  Stir in butter and vanilla.
Press plastic wrap onto filling in saucepan.
Cool to room temperature.


Slice 2 bananas into pie shell.
Pour filling over bananas.

Make meringue.

Meringue:

4 egg whites
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ teaspoon cream of tartar
½ cup sugar.

Let egg whites stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. 
In a large mixing bowl, combine egg whites, vanilla and cream of tartar.
Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed about 1 minute until soft peakse form (the tips curl).
Gradually add sugar, a little at a time, beating on high speed about 4 minutes until mixture forms stiff, glossy peaks (tips stand straight) and sugar dissolves.
Immediately spread meringue over hot pie filling.

Assemble pie:

Spread meringue over chilled filling and bananas.
Seal to edge of pie shell to prevent shrinkage.
Bake in a 325 degree oven for 25 to 30 minutes or till lightly browned.
Cool on a wire rack for 1 hour.
Chill 3 to 6 hours before serving.


You’ll go bananas over this Banana Cream Pie too, just like Vicki!!! 


This entry was posted on Saturday, September 10, 2011 at 6:57 AM and is filed under , , , . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response.

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